My contract with the company is about to come to an end, and I'm already planning to renew it. But a few days before that, my boss, Dustin Kline, requested that I lower the percentage of my bonus in the project.

The reason he gave is that I'm still young. Even if I were to take over other projects, I'd also do a good job.

Dustin even made empty promises to me just so he could get me to give the projects I'm in charge of to Sandy Richmond, the new department manager in the company.

When I refused to do so, he threatened to not give me my salary in order to get me to comply.

The next day, the company is reduced to a laughing stock at the product launch event. Our client thinks the company's technological skills are too weak to back up the big talk, so they refuse to pay the remainder of the contracted sum.

When Dustin begs me for help, I just look at him in amusement.

"I refuse to get manipulated by anyone in this workplace. You're more than capable of dealing with your own problems. I believe in you, Mr. Kline."

At that moment, I was sitting in Dustin Kline's office, listening to his toxic motivational talk.

"Brooke, you're still young. So, how about handing over your current project to the new hire, Sandy Richmond, and let her achieve some results first?"

It sounded like a question, but his tone was firm and left no room for discussion.

I was utterly confused. If the goal was to help Sandy secure her position by having her take on a new project, why did he have to drag me into it?

I might not have much education, but he had better not try to fool me.

"Mr. Kline, according to the contract, today is my last day as an intern. How will my salary be handled?"

Dustin saw my clear yet puzzled expression, and a look of "just as I expected" appeared on his face.

"You young people shouldn't always focus on money. Your internship salary will remain as before."

I was still bewildered and didn't quite catch on.

Seizing the opportunity, Dustin continued, "Brooke, look—you're still young and not as experienced as those who have been in the workplace for years. As a project lead, you're just not quite qualified yet.

"Why don't you hand over your project to the new department manager, Sandy? The company has reassigned you to a new position, right at the desk next door."

I gathered my thoughts. So, they wanted to exploit cheap labor and take credit for my work as well.

I raised an eyebrow and looked at Dustin with a smile. "And what if I refuse?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Dustin's expression darkened instantly. "If that's the case, it might be quite difficult to justify approving your salary for the month."

I thought for a moment, then replied, "Fine, I'll follow your arrangements, Mr. Kline."

As expected, Dustin broke into a smile once more. "That's the spirit. Bigger things await you. Keep up the good work."

Dustin had really outdone himself.

I slogged my guts out on this project. While others worked their regular hours, I pulled endless overtime. In the early stages, I was doing the work of three people all by myself.

And now they wanted to screw me over and walk away with everything when my contract was up? It was quite rare to come across someone who didn't care about repeat business like this.

After stepping out of Dustin's office, I noticed my teammates whispering among themselves, and one even rolled their eyes at me.

At my workstation, Sandy was directing others to move my computer, while the rest of my belongings had been carelessly tossed into a corner.

Sandy covered her mouth in feigned surprise when she saw me.

"That was fast. Brooke, don't be upset. Pull yourself together and come to my office later to do a handover."

"Sure, I'll head over once I've packed up my things," I replied calmly.

Staring at Sandy's despicable expression, I mentally gave her a kick. Her award-worthy performance was such a pick-me move.

"Ms. Richmond is Mr. Kline's girlfriend, so how could a regular employee like Brooke ever measure up to her?"

"Finally, someone's putting her in her place."

Even without Dustin's announcement, everyone already knew the project had changed hands.

Judging by the gleeful looks from colleagues who joined around the same time as I did, it was clear they were nothing but fair-weather friends.

"Brooke, did Mr. Kline mention why he wanted you to—"

I cut off my teammate's question. "Since you all already know, you'll have no problem climbing the ladder from now on. Not only will you make money easily, but your futures will be limitless too."

At my sarcastic remark, my colleagues couldn't hold back and started firing back at me.

"Pfft, sour grapes much?"

"Ms. Richmond is a graduate of a top-tier overseas university. You really think you're in the same class as her? Get real. It's like comparing a dumpster to a diamond."

"She's way prettier than you, and her academic background is better too."

"You're just jealous."

With one remark after another, the whole exchange took on the feel of haggling at a flea market.

Everyone knew perfectly well that Sandy had only landed the manager position because she was Dustin's girlfriend.

In truth, she was just a recent graduate, and all that praise for her excellent education and good looks was mere lip service.

When Dustin claimed I lacked experience, it was nothing but an excuse.

After packing up my things, I handed over my work to Sandy, who looked at me with disdain from head to toe.

By the end, she even lectured me like my mother would.

"Look at you, Brooke. You really should make more of an effort with your appearance, seeing as you're always dressed like some frumpy housewife." She snorted in disgust. "Unlike me. I'm pretty, and I know how to dress. That's how I landed a great boyfriend like Dustin."

I almost wanted to throw up right then and there.

If she could stomach being with Dustin, how could she possibly not put up with me?

"Sure, sure. You're into Mr. Kline because he's older and never showers, right? You really are so desperate that you'd be with just about anyone."

Dustin stood at five-foot-five, a portly man whose most striking feature was the conspicuously bald spot crowning his head.

Sandy's face flushed with rage, and she raised her hand to slap me.

I grabbed her wrist and shoved it aside. "I'm not your punching bag, so don't take your anger out on me."

Ignoring her reddened, angry face, I picked up the documents and turned to leave without another word.

As soon as I got home from work that evening, I complained to my client, "Dad, Mr. Kline says I'm not capable enough and wants me to hand over my hard work to the company for free."

He might be my client on paper, but in reality, he was actually my father, Ian Sullivan.

"I'm no longer the project lead now, so you really need to think about this carefully."

At this, Dad's smile instantly vanished. "I was already doing them a favor by injecting funds into their company, yet this is how they treat you? I told you to join our family business, but you wouldn't listen.

"Instead, you insisted on chasing some dream. Have you finally realized how harsh reality can be? Have you felt the tough lessons society has to offer? Quit that job right now."

"Oh, I'm definitely quitting. Who told them to mess with a college graduate who knows how to fight back?"

A year ago, I turned down Dad's arrangements and chose to join a relatively small software development company as a developer. There, I came across a proposal that no one was interested in and suggested to Dustin that we should give it a try.

Since there was no funding support in the early stages, I had to persistently convince Dad to inject capital into the company.

With the infusion of funds, this niche project showed considerable potential, so I put in my utmost effort to make it the best it could be.

So now, the project had become the golden goose of the entire company, and everyone wanted a piece of it.

Prior to this, I never imagined I would be the one to shake things up in the workplace.

The internet always said Gen Z would quit without a second thought. Since they had no family to support, no mortgages or car loans tying them down, they weren't afraid to voice their dissatisfaction and stand up for their rights.

But honestly, all they ever wanted was to be treated fairly. They wanted to work with transparency, not office politics, and to do their job with a healthy mindset.

After all, no one wanted to spend their days feeling unhappy at work.

In the workplace, experiences like being targeted by a supervisor, unpaid internships, or even having to pay to work, and uncompensated overtime were all too common. In the end, it often came down to nothing but mental resilience.

Over the past year, I worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk.

Dad felt for me, so he promised to transfer the final nine million dollars to the company regardless of how the project turned out—all because he had my back.

When Dustin caught wind of this through the grapevine, he couldn't wait to claim the project's success as his own just days before my contract renewal.

Unfortunately, not only were there still unresolved bugs in the software, but Dad also had no intention of paying them the remaining funds.

What Dustin didn't know was that his threats meant nothing to me, as I could easily file a labor arbitration claim to recover my rightful wages.

The day after the incident, I decided to slack off and see what Dustin and his darling girlfriend could come up with.

After all, we were the generation known for taking the path of least resistance. Thus, staying true to the art of doing the bare minimum, I began clocking in and out exactly on time.

Instead of actually working, I just relaxed at my desk and scrolled through short videos to pass the time.

On the third day, just as I was about to leave right on the dot, Sandy slammed a USB drive onto my desk.

Probably still holding a grudge from our confrontation the other day, she pointed at me and yelled, "Brooke, why didn't you tell me there were still bugs in the software? Did you do this on purpose?"

I glanced at her and replied innocently, "That's because you never asked. Since you didn't, why should I say anything? After all, I've already handed over all the files.

"Besides, there were clearly gaps in the code. Don't tell me you didn't notice? Anyway, I've got to head home now and binge-watch some shows in bed."

With that, I turned and dashed off, completely ignoring Sandy's furious shrieks behind me.

…

At exactly 8:00 am, I clocked in right on time.

Slumping into my office chair, I saw there were hardly any documents left on my desk.

With no work to do for now, I picked up my phone and started playing ranked matches.

My colleague from the next cubicle, Candice Burch, spotted me and immediately leaned over to relay a message from Dustin.

"Brooke, last night Ms. Richmond went to complain to Mr. Kline. The client said they specifically want you involved in the project, and Mr. Kline agreed. You're also expected to attend the project meeting this morning."

I totally tuned her out and kept playing my game. To me, she looked like a throwback to some old-time servant in a wealthy household, acting all arrogant and entitled for no reason.

Right as my team was closing in on the enemy's base and we were moments away from winning, I heard Sandy's shrill screech cut through.

"Brooke, are you deaf? Can't you see the client specifically asked you to report on the project progress? How dare you make everyone wait for you?"

Only after finishing my ranked match did I slowly look up, casually digging my ear.

"God, that was loud. If I didn't know any better, I'd think someone was slaughtering a pig. Ms. Richmond, getting angry so early in the morning isn't good for your health, you know."

Usually, everyone was used to Sandy's habit of shouting and making a scene whenever something happened, and they would quietly go about their work without daring to speak up.

But now, things were different. I had already been kicked out of the project team by Dustin, so at most, they would just gossip behind my back.

I strolled leisurely to the conference room door and took a closer look. Well, well, it was a room full of familiar faces.

I took my seat with practiced ease and opened my game before greeting the client's representatives with a friendly smile.

"Here's the thing—I'm no longer the project lead, so the new project lead will handle the reporting from now on. Ms. Richmond, please go ahead. As the lead, you should give a proper presentation."

Sandy's face visibly paled. She had no idea how to present the report at all.